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Canadian E. coli Outbreak Nears 30

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, one additional case of E. coli O157:H7 illness was confirmed in Ontario as part of the ongoing outbreak linked to lettuce.

This brings the total number of cases to 29. Patients fell ill between late December and early January.

Illnesses by province are as follows: New Brunswick (6), Nova Scotia (10) and Ontario (13).

The latest evidence uncovered in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s investigation indicates that the most probable cause of the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the Maritimes (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and Ontario is shredded lettuce distributed by FreshPoint Inc. The lettuce was sold primarily to KFC and Taco Bell restaurants in these provinces, but was also sold to Burger King, Pizza Hut and retail locations, sometimes as part of a salad mix.

The CFIA has traced the lettuce to its origin in California and has notified U.S. authorities of this finding.